Learning lesson from defeat at the hands of arch-rival India in the Independence Cup Dhaka, the PCB has tried to strengthen the fast bowling department of the team with the re-induction of speedsters Waqar Younis, Muhammad Akram and Shoaib Akhtar. Another paceman Azhar Mahmood maintained his slot. However, Aaqib Javed has been dropped.

Muhammad Akram got place in the team after appearing last time in the second Sahara Cup Cricket Tournament, held in Canada in September last year. Waqar Younis was recalled in the outfit after dropping from the last home series against the West Indies team and the Bangladesh's tour. The spin bowling department will be the responsibility of the seasoned off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmad. The inclusion of another wicketkeeper-batsman Moin Khan is a significant feature of the announced team.

Muhammad Wasim and Ali Naqvi have been included to strengthen the batting line-up. The axe, however, fell on slogger Shahid Afridi. No other change was made in the batting department which had toured Bangladesh with Aamir Sohail, Saeed Anwar, Inzimam-ul-Haq, Ijaz Ahmad and Yousaf Yuhana.

The team will depart Karachi for Johannesburg (South Africa) on Jan 25. During the tour, Pakistan will play three Test series each against South Africa and Zimbabwe. As the last-leg of the tour, Pakistan will participate in the triangular cricket tournament to be held in South Africa from April 3 to 23. The world champions Sri Lanka and the host South Africa are the other teams of the tournament.

The team is: Captain: Rashid Latif, vice-captain: AamirSohail, Saeed Anwar, Inzimam-ul-Haq, Ijaz Ahmad, Yousaf Yuhana, Moin Khan, Muhammad Wasim, Saqlain Mushtaq, Azhar Mahmood, Ali Naqvi, Shoaib Akhtar, Muhammad Akram, Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmad. Manager: Asad Ahmad Aziz. Coach: Haroon Rasheed. Physio: Dan Kiesel.